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What do books and dinosaurs have in common?

Q: What would you get if you crossed a locamotive with the author of Tom Sawyer?

A: A choo-choo Twain.

Q: What did one arithmetic book say to the other?

A: I’ve got a really big problem.

Q: What happened when a bomb-sniffing dog wrote his autobiography?

A: It landed on the best-smeller list.

Q: What do books and dinosaurs have in common?

A: To be determined

It might seem like a silly question, but what is the answer to that riddle? If we take a look at current research and trends, the answer may be “extinction” in the near future. In today’s society, printed paper books are slowly losing interest, while sales for e-readers and similar technology are skyrocketing. Will the e-book lead to the printed book’s demise? From 2009-2010, mass market paperback sales declined 13%, but E-book sales were on track to spike 250% in that one year period. in 2012, a research study showed that 31 percent of adults surveyed said they had read an e-book in the last year, compared to 17 percent who reported doing so the year book, which is a fairly significant increase in a year. What implications will occur due to e-books and the increase in technology in the reading realm? Many local and national bookstores have already begun closing their doors due to lack of physical sales, and in order to stay in business, will need to tweak their business strategies to appeal to customers. An increase in technology has also lead to a decrease in price. For example, a a German e-reader called “txtr beagle” can be purchased for only $13 in Germany, or you can download their free app to use on a mobile device or computer.

One website even predicted e-readers would be free in 2013 to encourage buyers to switch over to the digital world. With eight months left in 2013, it’s not too far-fetched! What other implications do you think will stem from the increased popularity of the e-book?